15-year-old Gimhani to make Sri Lanka Women’s cricket debut

• Picked for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier in Abu Dhabi

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Uncapped 15-year-old Shashini Gimhani is set to make her international debut with the Sri Lanka Women’s cricket team when she joins them in Abu Dhabi for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier.

The Sri Lanka Women’s cricket team, led by Chamari Athapaththu, currently in South Africa playing a three-match WODI series, will travel directly to Abu Dhabi at the end of the third and final match on 17 April to take part in the Global Qualifier.

Gimhani, a student from Devapathiraja Vidyalaya, Rathgama, has gained recognition for her extra talents as a left-arm wrist spinner (chinaman). She is currently representing her country in the ongoing Women’s Under-19 Tri-Nation Series against England and Australia at Hambantota and has featured in the four matches Sri Lanka has played so far, capturing seven wickets (avg. 16.42) at an economy rate of 5.

The majority of players in the Sri Lankan team for the Abu Dhabi qualifier will be almost the same as those playing in South Africa, with the exception of a few. The current squad in South Africa has 17 players which will be reduced to 15 for the Global Qualifier. A decision on the final squad will be taken during the three-match ODI series against South Africa which commences at East London on Tuesday. Three players are due to return home after the series.

The Global Qualifier will see 10 teams competing for two spots in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 to be held in Bangladesh in October-November. Sri Lanka found themselves in the Global Qualifier because they failed to finish in the top six of the Women’s T20 World Cup held in South Africa in 2023.

The top six teams that have earned direct qualification are champions Australia, South Africa, England, India, New Zealand, and the West Indies, while Bangladesh as hosts and Pakistan by virtue of their position in the ICC Women’s T20I team rankings.

The Global Qualifier, which takes place from 25 April to 7 May at two venues in Abu Dhabi – Tolerance Oval and Zayed Cricket Stadium, has 10 teams divided into two groups of five.

Sri Lanka is in Group A with Thailand, Scotland, Uganda, and USA. Group B comprises Ireland, Zimbabwe, Netherlands, UAE, and Vanuatu.

A total of 20 matches will be played during the Group stage, after which the top team from each Group will play the semi-finals. Both finalists will qualify for the main event – the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.